Title: MAS: building an educational platform for people with intellectual disabilities and cerebral paralysis

Authors: Fernando Paniagua-Martin, Ricardo Colomo-Palacios, Angel Garcia-Crespo, Belen Ruiz-Mezcua

Addresses: Computer Science Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Av. Universidad 30, Leganes, 28911 Madrid, Spain. ' Computer Science Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Av. Universidad 30, Leganes, 28911 Madrid, Spain. ' Computer Science Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Av. Universidad 30, Leganes, 28911 Madrid, Spain. ' Computer Science Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Av. Universidad 30, Leganes, 28911 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: Intellectual disability is common and lifelong, with lifetime cost. Thus, this people have been the focus of recent major national policy developments in Europe, the USA, Australia and across high-income countries. The education of these students with disabilities now can benefit from a wider range of assistive tools. Following this unstoppable trend, this paper presents MAS, a software platform aimed to help people with severe intellectual disabilities and cerebral paralysis in their learning processes. MAS, as a technology enhanced learning platform, provides several tools that supports learning and monitoring for people with special needs, including adaptative games, data processing and monitoring tools. Installed in a special needs education institution in Madrid, Spain, MAS provides special educators with a tool that improved students education processes.

Keywords: assistive technology; adaptive toys; handicapped persons; special needs; assistive technologies; intellectual disabilities; cerebral paralysis; technology enhanced learning; monitoring; Spain; adaptative games; data processing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2010.034752

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2010 Vol.6 No.2/3, pp.175 - 184

Published online: 21 Aug 2010 *

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